Metal working device



Dec. 25, 1934.

Filed Dec. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 25, 1934. F, E; MCCABE 1,985,454

METAL WORK ING DEVI CE Filed Dec. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 HIM Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STAT ES PATENT oer-ice METAL VVORKii-NG DEVICE Application December 19, 1934), Serial No. 503,367

4 Claims.

This invention relates'to metalworking devices and more particularly to such devices for flaring or flanging the ends of metal tubes or pipes.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved tool for flaring and flangingthe ends ofmetal tubes.

A further object is the provision of such a tool which is simple of construction, economical to manufacture, and which is adapted for manual operation.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tube-'flanging tool incorporating my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of that shown in Fig. l andtaken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4; 4

Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking toward the right end of Fig. 1, having the cover plate removed from the gearing assembly and showing a portion of the operating handle in broken lines for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 5 is a left-end elevational view of Fig. l; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1;except that another portion of the tool is shown in section and the pipe-holding means is opened.

My improved tube-flanging tool consists generally of a body portion Shaving a handle 6 and a depending lug 7 by which it may be held in a vise or bolted to a bench, and atube-gripping portion adjacent one end of the body portion. The body portion 5 is provided with internal threads 8 having engagement with external threads on a spindle 9 which is adapted to be moved axially by cooperation of the engaging threads when the spindle is rotatedeither for moving the flanging head 11 into or out of one end of the metal tube. The flanging head 11 has a tapered face 12 which may be conical or any other suitable shape for fianging the tube. It is also provided with flattened portions around its base on which a wrench may be placed for rotating the same. The head 11 is provided with a threaded shank 13 which has threaded engagement at 14 within one end of the spindle 9 and is adapted to be readily replaced by another head when desired.

The tube-holding means consists of complementary internally threaded tube-gripping elements 1? and 18. The element 17 is secured in a concave hinged member 19 by means of a screw 21, the hinge being formed by a lug 22 on the member 19 which is fitted between the lugs 23 on a guide.

the body 5 and through which is inserted a suitable bolt or pin 24. The gripping element 18 is secured to the body by a screw 26 and in. such position that the opening between the two gripping elements when in closed position extends axially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the head 11 and the spindle 9.

A clamping bolt 27 is secured to the body member by a hinge pin 23 and is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 29 having threaded engagement therewith and'including a shoulder 31 adapted to engage the upper side of the spaced lugs 32 and between whichthe clamping bolt 27 is adapted to pass when the clamping elements are in closed position as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 whereby the complementary gripping elements 17 and 18 may be forcibly pressed onto the surface of a tube 35 for holding it firmly in position and with the forward end of the tube 35 extending a sufficient distance toward the flanging head 11 that it maybe flared and flanged outwardly by pressure from the tapered face 12 of the head in cooperation with the flared inner ends 36 on the gripping elements. The gripping elements Hand 18 may be readily removed and replaced by similar elements of somewhat different size, if desired, to accommodate tubes of diiierent sizes.

For the purpose of advancing and retracting the spindle 9 axially I have provided a manually operable gearing assembly which comprises a frame 38 having formed integrally therewith on its inner surface a ring gear having teeth 39 which mesh. with teeth 41 on a plurality of planetary gears i2 which gears are journaled by pins 43 to a cover plate 44 and a flange 45 on the rear end of the spindle 9, and are confined therebetween. The member 38 is held from rotation relative to the body 5 by a lug 47 having a pin 48 rigidly fixed thereto and extending through a bore 49 in the member 38. This arrangement, although preventing relative rotation of the member 38 and the body 5, permits relative axial movement. For actuating the planetary gears 42 I have provided a sun-gear or pinion 52 journaled in bearings 53 and 54 and secured to an operating handle 55 by a squared extension 56 on one end.

In the operation of my invention a tube 35 is placed between the gripping elements 1'? and 18, preferably with the forward end of the tube even with the gage line 50, or if desired the flared end 36 of the gripping elements may be used as The gripping elements are then forced onto the tube by the hand-wheel 2 9 for holding the tube in the desired axial position. It will be noted that the set-screws 21 and 26 are offset from the mid-positions along the gripping elements 17 and 18 making it impossible to secure the gripping elements in the tool with the ends reversed. The device may be held by handle 6 and the pinion 52 may be rotated by the handle 55 which in turn actuates the planetary gears 42 engaging the teeth 39 in the ring gear, which rin gear and frame 38 are not rotatable but which are adapted to move axially. The planetary gears moving along the teeth of the ring gear cause the cover plate 44 and the flange 45 of the spindle 9 to rotate, thereby rotating the spindle 9 and causing the same to advance axially through the body member 5 and force the head 11, and more particularly the tapered portion 12, with a rotating motion, into the tube 35 for effecting a drawing and flaring of the end outwardly and firmly pressing the same against the flared portions 36 of the gripping elements. After the operation has been completed the spindle 9 is retracted by the reverse operation of the handle and the tube 35 may be readily removed by releasing the pressure of the gripping elements thereon.

From the foregoing it will be understood that I have described a specific embodiment of my invention which may be modified without departing from the principle of my invention, and I desire to avail myself of such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a device of the class described, a body member, tube holding means adjacent one end of said body member, a spindle having threaded engagement with said body member in axial alignment with said holding means and adapted to be moved longitudinally when rotated, a tube flanging head mounted on the end of said sp'ndle adjacent said holding means, and means for rotating said spindle, said rotating means including a frame, means securing said frame to said body member and holding it from rotation relative thereto while permitting relat've axial movement, a gearing mechanism in said frame operably secured to said spindle, and manually operable means for actuating said gearing mechanism.

2. In a device of the class described, a body member, tube holding means adjacent one end. of said body member, a spindle having threaded engagement with said body member in axial alignment with said holding means and adapted to be moved longitudinally when rotated, a tube fianging head mounted on the end of said spindle adjacent said holding means, and manually operable gearing mechanism for rotating said spindle, said holding means comprising a gripping element fixed to said body member, a second cooperating opposed gripping element hinged to said body member for opening and closing movement relative to the first said gripping element, and means for clamping said gripping elements onto a tube placed therebetween, said gripping elements having flared ends for indicating the position of engagement by the flanging head with the tube.

3. In a device of the class described, a body member, tube-holding means adjacent one end of said body member, a spindle having threaded engagement with said body member in axial alignment with sa'd holding means and adapted to be moved longitudinally when rotated, a tubefianging head mounted on the end of said spindle adjacent said holding means, and means for rotating said spindle, said rotating means includ ing a frame, means securing said frame to said body member and holding it from rotat on relative thereto while permitting relative axial movement, a gearing mechanism in said frame operably secured to said spindle, and manually operable means for actuating said gearing mechanism, said holding means compris ng a gripping element fixed to said body member, a second cooperating opposed gripping element hinged to said body member for opening and closing movement relative to the first said gripping element, and means for clamping said gripping elements onto a tube placed therebetween.

4. In a device of the class descrbed, tubeholding means, a tube-fianging head disposed. adjacent thereto and adapted to be advanced bodily by operation of the device and to flare one end of a tube held by said holding means, and manually operable gearing mechanism for smultaneously rotating said head and advancing it into the tube comprising an internally threaded body member, a spindle in threaded engagement there- W th and carrying said head at one end thereof, manipulative means for operating said device, and an epicyclic gear train driven by said manipulative means and carried by said spindle at the other end thereof, said gear train being operable for rotating said spindle and sa d head thereby to advance said head into engagement with one end of a tube held by said tube holding means.

FRANK E. McCABE. 

